Radhe Shyam is a romantic story set in Europe in the early 1970's and is grandly produced by UV Creations and T Series. Directed by Radha Krishna Kumar has Prabhas, Pooja Hegde playing the lead roles. The film had a multilingual release where the Tamil release was bagged by Red Giant Movies.
Vikramadhithya (Prabhas), a renowned palmist falls for Prerna (Pooja Hegde) and predicts a long future for her who has cancer and only sixty days to live. Will destiny pave a path for their love that forms the plot for this wannabe epic romance.
The performances are measured in this fantasized narrative. Prabhas racing against destiny is a treat to watch. Pooja Hegde does what is required for the character. The supporting cast including Sathyaraj, Sachin Khedekar, Jagapathi Babu, Murali Sharma and Bhagyashree stems throughout the narrative single dimensionally. Jayaram stands out providing comic relief through his eccentric behaviour.
Radhe Shyam undoubtedly has a visual grandeur that surpasses all other aspects of the film. The linear plot helps in following the narrative with ease which sways the audience with its plot twists. The Ship sequence in the climax delivers the desired effect among the audiences. The story of a hair clip narrated by Vikramadhithya deserves a laud for its authentic nature.
The Art Department, Costumes and Choreography teams deserve a special mention for the authentic look of the period genre. Madhan Karki's Tamil dialogues about romance, love adds depth. But the predictable natured screenplay impacts the overall engagement.
Songs of Justin Prabhakaran doesn't impact much but aids crutch to the narrative. Thaman's background score elevates the scenes which are already elevated by astonished visuals. Manoj Paramahamsa steals the show by capturing the aesthetics of Europe in its natural setting as well as the constructed ambience. The hard labour of the art department is flaunted in each and every frame of the film.
The film lags depth in its storytelling as many details are conveyed through simple dialogues and templated scenes. Romance between the leads falls short thus making the story weak in its primary endeavour. Rather than a blazing chemistry between the leads we get hyperbolic scenes that move them apart. Period references linked with history fail to add depth to the plot. Palmistry even with all its mystery falls flat.